VXM01 is based on a live attenuated bacterial Salmonella Typhi vaccine strain, which is modified to carry vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) as the target gene. Using the live attenuated Salmonella Typhi vaccine strain Ty21a as the vector, VXM01 activates VEGFR2 specific T-cells against tumor- specific vasculature, thus shows broad anti-tumor potential in different tumor types. The product has been granted orphan drug designation from the European Commission and the U.S. FDA for the treatment of glioma.
Recurrent GBM is one of the most aggressive primary brain tumors and has the characteristics of high recurrence rate and low overall survival. It is estimated that the annual incidence of glioma in China is (3-6.4)/100,000 and the annual death toll is 30,000; the annual incidence of malignant glioma is 5.8/100,000 and the 5-year mortality ranks third, following pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
